June 05, 2014
Settlements costly for iwi
Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell says treaty settlements have come at a huge cost for Taranaki iwi.
This week two Taranaki iwi, Te Atiawa and Ngaruahine, initialled their settlements.
Mr Flavell, who taught in the region for many years, says it’s been almost 20 years since the Waitangi Tribunal reported on the way the tribes lost their land through war and confiscations.
He says the path to settlement has been rough, with many of those who instigated the process not living to see it completed.
" There’s been serious splits in families about whether they should or they shouldn't, through to community splits because theres some issues with respect to leases in Waitara and places like that, where you have had families, communities who've been staying on land and indeed buildings that may well come back to the iwi. You've got inherent racism that is a part of some of our New Zealand communities but in the end I think the people have done the right thing by finally getting to this point in time" he says
Te Ururoa Flavell says Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson is doing a good job getting settlements through.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH TE URUROA FLAVELL CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MTg4NDY=
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